The JSW Group opened an exhibition in Paris honoring Pierre de Coubertin, the Founder of the Olympic Movement, while also marking 100 years of India's participation in the Olympic Games. This exhibition, housed at the Town Hall of the 7th Arrondissement, will be available to the public until the conclusion of the Paris 2024 Summer Paralympic Games in September.
The inauguration event was attended by a number of dignitaries including Sangita Jindal, chairperson of the JSW Foundation; Parth Jindal, founder of the Inspire Institute of Sport; Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC); Madame Rachida Dati, minister of culture; Jawed Ashraf, Ambassador of India to the Republic of France; and Alexandra de Navacelle, president of the Pierre de Coubertin Family Association.
Sangita Jindal expressed the JSW Group’s pride in supporting the exhibition, titled "100 Years of India at Olympics," part of the Genius of Sport exhibition in Paris.
"Through this unique exhibition, we celebrate the life and legacy of Pierre de Coubertin and 100 years of India's remarkable Olympic journey and success. We share Pierre de Coubertin's vision that sport has the ability to change the world by transcending borders and bringing people together in the spirit of peace and friendship," she said.
The exhibition, developed in collaboration with the Pierre de Coubertin Family Association, provides a comprehensive overview of India's Olympic journey over the last century, showcasing the country's historical achievements and recent successes with a forward-looking perspective.
Thomas Bach, president of the IOC, emphasized the importance of the exhibition, stating, "Thanks to this magnificent exhibition, the public will be able to discover and rediscover an astonishing and multi-faceted man and measure the extent of his work. France and the French people should be proud to have a compatriot like Pierre de Coubertin. A visionary whose message of a world united in peaceful competition through sport resonates even more strongly today."
Parth Jindal highlighted the significance of the exhibition and India's contribution to the Olympic movement. "We are honoured to partner with the Pierre de Coubertin family for what we believe is a special showcase of the Olympic movement and the part India has played in it. As a country, we want to take forward the ideals of Pierre de Coubertin. We want the world to be a peaceful place, and the role that sport could play in that regard, is enormous."
He further mentioned that the Inspire Institute of Sport will be represented by nearly 30 athletes in Team India at the upcoming Games, signaling India's increasing presence in the Olympic arena. "It is our mission at JSW Sports to further the Olympic movement, not just in India, but in the world," he added.
Jawed Ashraf, Ambassador of India to the Republic of France, thanked the JSW Group for organizing the exhibition, which will remain open to the public until September 10. This exhibition provides a unique opportunity for visitors to engage with and appreciate India’s rich Olympic history and its future aspirations.
